Malta Alternative Investment Fund Services

As this Hedgeweek Special Report outlines, the introduction of Malta's Notified AIF regime is a masterstroke, shifting the regulatory focus to the manager and providing fund promoters with an unregulated fund structure where speed to market is of the essence…

The shock Brexit result this June sent ripples across Europe as individual Member States absorbed the news. And whilst some jurisdictions have been quick to seize the initiative on the back of the uncertainty that UK firms face – especially as it relates to passporting for London's much lauded financial services industry – Malta is focusing on maintaining the harmonious relationship it has with the UK.
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The Maltese Notified Alternative Investment Fund (NAIF) fills a gap in Europe's fund market. According to Dr Stefania Grech, Financial Services Associate, Chetcuti Cauchi Advocates, an unregulated fund was the one product missing in the Maltese Fund Industry. "Now, from a European perspective, there is no discrimination when it comes to the creation of an unregulated vehicle, offshore versus onshore.
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Circle Partners (Circle) is an independent fund administrator with offices across the EU, the Americas and Hong Kong. Circle has the ability to set up sub-funds on its Luxembourg SICAV and guide start-up managers through the whole process of bringing a new fund to market in all major fund jurisdictions.
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On 10 June 2016, Malta burnished its reputation when the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) launched the Notified Alternative Investment Fund (NAIF) regime through the publication of the Investment Services Act (List of Notified AIFs) Regulations in the Malta Government Gazette.
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Malta has been quite innovative in providing certain infrastructure for the securitisation cell company (SCC) and securitisation in general. According to the MFSA, 30 securitisation vehicles have launched so far this year, and Sparkasse Bank Malta, plc. has been a beneficiary of this phenomenon.
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